Leucadendron plant named ‘Hawaii Magic’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Leucadendron plant named ‘Hawaii Magic’ that is distinguished by compact bushy plant habit, foliage color which changes from olive green in summer months to orange-red in the fall and becoming plum colored in spring. The branch stems of ‘Hawaii Magic’ are bright red in color. ‘Hawaii Magic’ bears only male flowers which are yellow in color.

Genus and species: Leucadendron salignum x discolor.

Variety denomination: ‘Hawaii Magic’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new variety of Leucadendron salignumx discolor, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Hawaii Magic’.‘Hawaii Magic’ is a hybrid selection which originated from theinventor's breeding program in Kula, Hi. The genus Leucadendron is amember of the Proteaceae or Protea family which is a significantcommercial class of Mediterranean plants used as cut flowering stems andornamental container plants.

The inventor commenced his Leucadendron breeding program in 2011. Theobjective of the breeding program to develop small or dwarf types ofProtea for the worldwide container ornamental plant market with novelfoliage colors, superior growth habits for commercial cultivation andfor home gardener use.

In 2012, the inventor carried out controlled pollination between anunnamed and upatented plant of Leucadendron discolor as the male parentand Leucadendron salignum ‘Red Devil’ (unpatented) as female parent.‘Hawaii Magic’ was selected as an individual plant in 2013 for itsbright yellow flowers and naturally compact and branching and secondarybranching habit.

The inventor first asexually propagated ‘Hawaii Magic’ in 2013 in Kula,Hi. using semi-ripe tip cuttings. ‘Hawaii Magic’ has been found toremain stable and uniform and to reproduce true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. ‘Hawaii Magic’ has not been sold ormade publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date ofthe instant application.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of ‘Hawaii Magic’. In combination thesetraits set the new cultivar apart from all others existing varieties ofLeucadendron known to the inventor. ‘Hawaii Magic’ has not been testedunder all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observedwith variations in environment, climatic, and cultural conditions,however, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘Hawaii Magic’ exhibits a compact bushy plant habit.    -   2. A two-year old container-grown plant of ‘Hawaii Magic’ is        approximately 65 cm in height and 45 cm to 50 cm in width.    -   3. The foliage color of ‘Hawaii Magic’ changes from olive green        in summer months to orange-red in the fall and becoming more        intensely plum colored towards early spring.    -   4. ‘Hawaii Magic’ achieves its most striking foliage color in        conditions of full sun.    -   5. The stems of ‘Hawaii Magic’ are bright red in color.    -   6. ‘Hawaii Magic’ bears only male flowers which are bright        yellow in color.    -   7. ‘Hawaii Magic’ prefers humus rich, acid, well-drained medium,        which is low in phosphorus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the distinguishing traits of thenew Leucadendron cultivar ‘Hawaii Magic’. All plants in the drawingshave received one pinch after initial cutting establishment and a secondpinch approximately one year later. The plants have been grown withoutany chemical growth regulators. The drawings were made from digitalphotographic images. Although colors may appear different from actualcolors due to light reflectance, they are as accurate as possible byconventional or digital photography.

FIG. 1 depicts a three-year old plant of ‘Hawaii Magic’ in April. Theplant has been grown out of doors at the inventor's nursery in Kula, Hi.At this time of year, the foliage color of ‘Hawaii Magic’ is olive greenbecoming deep purple towards and at the terminal growth.

FIG. 2 depicts a close up view of the plum color of the newest terminalshoot growth of ‘Hawaii Magic’, and the red stems, as exhibited inJanuary.

FIG. 3 depicts a close up view of the plum color of the terminal shootgrowth of ‘Hawaii Magic’, and a newly-emerged male flower, as exhibitedin February.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of the Leucadendronplant named ‘Hawaii Magic’. Data was collected from a two-year old plantwhich was growing outdoors in a 3-gallon container in Santa Barbara,Calif. Phenotypic differences may be observed with variation inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions. The colordeterminations are in accordance with the 2007 Edition of The RoyalHorticulture Society Color Chart except where general color terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification:    -   -   Family.—Proteaceae.        -   Genus.—Leucadendron.        -   Species.—salignum x discolor.        -   Variety.—‘Hawaii Magic’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Male parent.—Leucadendron discolor (species, unpatented).        -   Female parent.—Leucadendron salignum ‘Red Devil’            (unpatented).-   Plant description:    -   -   Propagation method.—Semi-ripe tip cuttings.        -   Rooting system.—Fine and fibrous.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Time to develop roots.—4 to 6 weeks are needed for a cutting            to develop roots at recommended rooting temperature of 20°            to 22° Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—Two years are required to produce a full and            branched 2-gallon container plant.        -   Use.—Ornamental for use as a landscape plant or container            plant.        -   Type.—Perennial in USDA Hardiness Zone 8 and higher.        -   Overall dimensions.—After 2 year's growth in a 2-gallon            container: 65 cm in height and 45 cm to 50 cm in width.        -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun with moderate water,            and well-draining soil.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 8.        -   Growth habit.—Freely branching bush.        -   Blooming season.—Male flowers only are produced with first            buds appearing in late January and fully developed flowers            by late March.        -   Lastingness of blooms.—4 weeks.-   Stem (below first pinch):    -   -   Length.—2 cm to 3 cm.        -   Diameter.—6 mm.        -   Color.—178A.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Branches (after first pinch) and secondary branches (after two    pinches):    -   -   Quantity.—5 to 6 branches, each 3 to 4 secondary branches.        -   Branch length.—25 cm to 30 cm, secondary branches 18 cm to            24 cm.        -   Internode length (branches and secondary branches).—1.5 cm            to 2.0 cm.        -   Branch stem diameter.—3 mm to 5 mm.        -   Branch stem shape.—Round.        -   Branch stem color.—46A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Type, arrangement.—Simple, opposite.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity per branch.—Typically, 6 pairs on each branch, 6            pairs on each sub-branch.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Length.—60 mm.        -   Width.—10 mm.        -   Margin.—Smooth, entire.        -   Thickness.—Slightly fleshy.        -   Venation.—Pinnate. Midrib slightly sulcate.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth, leathery.        -   Color.—Summer foliage (both surfaces): One-year old leaves:            Ranges between N138B and 146D. Current season's new growth:            Ranges from and through 42A, 60C and 187C. Winter and spring            foliage: Previous summer's old growth: 138C with margins            60C. Previous summer's new growth: 186B to 63A. Some leaves            exhibit all colors 138A, 186B, 63A as they age.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, semi-glossy.        -   Color.—12D.-   Inflorescence and flowers: Inflorescence rarely produced until    second or third growing season.    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal, consisting of a dense cluster            of male flowers.        -   Inflorescence shape.—Cylindricial.        -   Inflorescence dimensions.—Height 2 cm, diameter 1 cm.        -   Flowers.—Quantity: Between 600 to 700 solitary flowers per            inflorescence. Arrangement: Solitary flowers, tightly packed            in cross-diagonal rows, borne on very short pedicels.            Pedicel dimensions: 1 mm in length, less than 0.5 mm in            diameter. Pedicel color: 11A. Development of Flowers:            Flowers first open at base of inflorescence. Final flowers            open at apex of inflorescence approximately one week later.            Fragrance: None. Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent.            Flower longevity on the plant: Less than one day in color,            two to three weeks while persistent. Flower color: 11A,            rapidly becoming dark brown 200A and while persistent.            Flower basal bracts: 2 to 4 in number, cylindrical, 1.5 mm            in length, 1 mm in diameter, appear stunted, color dark            brown or black between 200A and 203A.-   Buds:    -   -   Number of buds per inflorescence.—Between 600 and 700.        -   Shape.—Tetragonal.        -   Dimensions.—0.5 mm to 0.75 mm in height and width.        -   Color.—N144B becoming 11A.-   Petals:    -   -   Number, arrangement.—Four, initially fused, ovoid.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Margin.—Smooth, undulating.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Apex.—Emarginate.        -   Dimensions.—2 mm in length, 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm in width.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color (both surfaces).—11A.-   Involucral bracts:    -   -   Arrangement and number.—Single whorl consisting of 8 uniform            involucral bracts and 0 to 2 shorter and narrower malformed            bracts.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Dimensions.—45 mm in length, 9 mm in width.        -   Margin.—Smooth, entire.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Texture.—Smooth, leathery.        -   Color (March, adaxial surface).—64C; margin 64B.        -   Color (March, abaxial surface).—163C towards base, becoming            64C towards apex; margin 64B.-   Reproductive organs and seed: None observed.-   Drought tolerance: Drought tolerant.-   Diseases and pests: ‘Hawaii Magic’ has not been found susceptible or    resistant to any particular horticultural pests or diseases.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘Hawaii Magic’ differs from Leucadendron discolor by foliage and stemcolor and by overall size. Whereas ‘Hawaii Magic’ exhibits bright redstems and leaf colors which range from green to plum, the speciesLeucadendron discolor bears green leaves on green stems. In addition,whereas ‘Hawaii Magic’ grows to 65 cm in height and 50 cm in width,Leucadendron discolor grows to 2 m to 2.5 m in height and 1.5 m inwidth.

‘Hawaii Magic’ differs from Leucadendron salignum var. ‘Red Devil’ byfoliage color and plant size. Whereas ‘Hawaii Magic’ exhibits leafcolors which range from green to plum, the leaves of Leucadendronsalignum var. ‘Red Devil’ are yellow and red in color. In addition,whereas ‘Hawaii Magic’ grows to 65 cm in height and 50 cm in width,Leucadendron salignum var. ‘Red Devil’ grows to 1.0 m to 1.5 m in heightand 1 m in width.

‘Hawaii Magic’ may also be compared with the Leucadendron variety incommerce known as ‘Safari Sunset’ (unpatented). In comparison with‘Safari Sunset’, ‘Hawaii Magic’ has a tight compact habit and shortinternodes compared to the medium to large habit and longer internodesof ‘Safari Sunset’. In addition, the foliage color of ‘Hawaii Magic’changes through the season whereas the foliage color of ‘Safari Sunset’is uniformly green and red all season long.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Leucadendron plant named ‘Hawaii Magic’ as described and illustrated herein. 